Controlling means for radio sets



March 29, 1927. ,499

w. G. DUNN CONTROLLING MEANS FOR RADIO SETS Filed Aoril 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 29, 1927. 1,622,499"

w. G. DUNN CONTROLLING MEANS FOR RADIO SETS Filed April 2, 2 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TIL-:2 E. r

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. I w 7 rw aka/Mega .nected in such a manner Patented Mar. 29,-1927. U N I T E D 1,622,499 STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. DUNN,

OF CLARIND'A, IOWA. CONTROLLING- MEANS FOR RADIO SETS.

Application filed April 2, 1925. Serial No. 20.254.

. This invention relates generally to radio Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but apparatus, and particularly to mechanical showing a different position of the parts; means for controlling or tuning radio sets. Fig. 5 1s a front elevation of the mech- The invention is especially adapted for use anism associated with one of the dials 0f the set, but showing the dial removed;

in connection with radio receiving sets, but

it is to be understood that it is not neces- Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same sarily limited to use in this connection. type of radio set illustrated in Fig. 1 but Recently there has been devised a very showing a different embodiment of the inefficient type of tuned radio frequency rcvention;

ceiving set in which tuning is effected by Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken the adjustment of the dials of'three varisubstantially on the plane indicated by the able tuning devices. Such sets have 116- line 7-7 of Fig. .6;

come very popular, but they are not ex- Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken tremely easy to tune because they are very on the plane indicated by the line 8-8 of selective and since the tuning is sharp, they Fig. 6; and

must be tuned very carefully to obtain the Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but best results. in sets of this character which showing a still further embodiment of the invention.

are properly designed and balanced, all,

Referring "more particularly to the drawthree dials must be set at or very nearly at the same place to tune into a particulugs, the numeral 1 designates the front panel of a radio receiving set of the abovelar station. Up to the present time, this has always been done by adjusting or setdescribed type, and the numerals 2 desighate the dials located at the front of the ting one dial after anotheigbut the present panel 1, which are adjusted to tune the set.

I the necessity for this procedure because it is a mechanism where- These dials 2 are fixed upon the front ends by all three dials of a set of the character of the rotor shafts 3 of the variable tuning mentioned may be adjusted simultaneously. devices of the According to the invention, the shafts of the rotors of the variable tuning devices extend through openings in the panel of the set and are provided at their front ends in front of the panel with dials, as usual, but in addition to this, the dials are conpreferably in front of the panel 1 and back that they will be of the \di'als 2, are toothed disks or pinions in unison when 7. These are connected for simultaneous by the operator. movement by some suitable means such as by a rack bar 8 slidably mounted in guides 9 carried by the panel 1. Secured to the disks or pinions 7 and extending from the same across the back of the dials 2, are resilient arms 10. Adjacent their free ends, these arms 10 carry friction shoes 11 which are normally in engagement with the backs of the dials 2 adjacent the peripheries of the latter. These shoes 11 when in engagement with the backs of the dials 2 couplethe dials to the arms 10 and to the disks or pinions 7 throu h the medium of such arms, and since tie disks or pinions 7 are connected by the rack 8, all three dials are connected for simultaneous movement or adjustment. It will therefore be seen that the adjustment of any one dial will simultaneously and correspondingly adjust the others, so that although the receiving set are located back of the panel 1.

Turnably mounted upon the shafts 3 turned simultaneously or any one of them is adjusted times necessary to adjust one or more of the dials independently of the others, so that according to the invention, adequate provision has been made for. this.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specication.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of athree dial radio receiving set equipped with mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

ig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the set taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

has three variable v pendently,

of engagement tuning devices,-it may be regarded as a'set having a single control.

In some cases, it may difierent tuning devices to be tuned indeand in other cases, this may be found to be necessary, so rotatably mounted upon the free ends of the arms 10 are Vernier knobs 12. Normally, these knobs 12 are out with the dials 2, but may be easily depressed and brought into engagement with the same. When the knobs 12 are depressed so as to be brought into operative engagement with the dials 2, the arms 10 will be likewise depressed or sprung rearwardly, causing the shoes '11 to be moved out of engagement with the rear surfaces of the dials 2. Then, by turning the particular knob 12 which has been depressed, the corresponding dial 2 will be turned, and since the corresponding arm 10 will remain stationary, no adjustment will be made in be advisable for the 'the other tuning devices.

In order to prevent any of the arms 10 from being swung when they are depressed at the time the Vernier knobs 12 are used, such armsare provided adjacent their free ends with additional friction shoes 13. These shoes 13 are arranged so that "they will engage the front face of the panel 1 when the arms 10 are depressed.

While the friction shoes 11 and 13 are bodied in the preferred construction, yet their use is not absolutely necessary, for substantially the same results may be obtained by constructing the mechanism as "shown in Figs. 6, 7" and 8. In this case, the vernier knobs 12 are always in engagement wit the dials 2, and the arms 10.need not be resilient. When independent adjustment of any of the dials 2 is desired, that may be effected merely by turnin the particular knob 12, While holding tfie corresponding arm 10 against swinging movement.

These same views also show how the pinions 7 may be replaced by grooved disks or pulleys 7 and connected together for simultaneous movement by belts 8 to correspond with the rack bar 8.

Figure 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention. In this case, each pinion is located back of the panel and is rigid with a substantially flat disk 14 disposed in front of the panel, the hub of this unitary member extending through the hole in the panel. The shaft 3 extends through the bore of the hub of the unitary member just referred to and carries at its free end a turning knob 2". Extending radially from this knob is an arm 10 to the free end of which is rotatably mounted a Vernier knob 12" havinga portion permanently in engagement with the disk 14: adjacent the periphery of the latter. By turning any of the knobs 2" or the disks 14 of this embodiment, all of the shafts 3 will be turned in unison,

thereof, so that it will also be understood that the invention is but independent adjustment of any one of the shafts 3 may be obtained by holding the corresponding disk 14: stationary and rotating the corresponding knob 12". When this is done, the portion of this knob which bears upon the periphery of the disk 14 will travel along the periphery of such disk and movement will be imparted to the shaft.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, use and advantages of the invention will be readily understood, so that further explanation isunnecessary.

It is obvious that numerous changes in form, proportion, details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and principle of the invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages is to be understood'that such may be done within the meaning an scope of the appended claims which define the novelty containedin the invention. It I not limited to use in connection with radio sets of the character or type illustrated in the drawings and specifically described heretofore, or that the number of tuning devices is material, for it is obvious that the invention may be used in connection with various kinds of radio sets having two ormore variable tuning or other adjustable devices. Q

1 claim:

.1. An adjustmg ineansffona plurality of {no instrument shafts, said means comprising h two members for each instrument, one rotatable with respect to the shaft and theother securedtb the shaft, means for simul.aneously rotating the rotatable members, and a driving connection from the rotatable member of any instrument to the shaft-carried member of such instrument, said driving connection having finger-operated means for simultaneously holding the rotatable member against turning and effecting an adjustment of the shaft carried member.

2. An adjusting means for a plurality of instrument shafts, said means comprising a disk member and an adjustment carrying member for each instrument, the two members, be-in co-axially mounted one member beingseciired to the shaft and the other rotatable with respect thereto, and means for simultaneously rotating the rotatable members, said carrying members having adjusting devices for co-acti'on withithe disks to eti'ect relative adjustment thereof, said simultaneously rotated members having frictional driving connections with the shaftcarried members to effect rotation of the latter simultaneously when said simultaneously rotated members are driven.

3. In an instrument adjusting means, a disk, a carrier mounted (Jo-axially therewith 339 and free to rotate with respect thereto, a shoe on the carrier normally contacting with the disk to rotate the latter when the carrier is rotated about its axis, and a disk-adjusting device mounted on the carrier and normally spaced from the disk, said carrier being movable to move the shoe from the disk and to simultaneously engage said disk-adjusting device with said (118k.

4. In a device-of the class described, the combination of a plurality of turnable instrument shafts, manually operative turning elements for said shafts and fixed thereto, pinions turnably mounted upon said shafts, a rack bar engaging said pinions and connecting the same for simultaneous movement, and members carried by said pinions and engaging said elements to impart motion from one to the other, said members being movable relatively to said elements to permit the latter to be adjusted independently.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination-of a pluralit of turnable instrument shafts, dials fixed upon said shafts for turning the same, disks turnably mounted upon said shafts, means connecting said disks for simultaneous movement, arms extending from said disks across said dials, and friction shoes carried by said arms and enga 'ng said dials and coupling the two said shoes being releasable from toget er, said dials by the depression of said arms to permit said dials to be independently ad justed.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of turnable instrument shafts, dials fixed upon said shafts for turning the same, disks turnably mounted upon said shafts, means connecting said disks for simultaneous movement, arms extending from said. disks across said dials,

friction shoes carried by said arms and engaging said dials and con lin the two together, said shoes being re easa le from said dials by the depression of said arms to perm1t said dials to be independently adjusted, and normally inoperative Vernier knobs for said dials rotatably mounted upon said arms, said knobs being adapted when depressed to operatlvely engage Said dials and simulaneously depress said arms and' release said shoes from said dials.

7. In a radio set, the combination of a plurality of turnable instrument shafts, the front ends of said shafts extending to the front of the panel through openin s in the same, dials fixed upon the front en s of said shafts in front of said panel, disks turnably mounted upon said shafts, means connecting said disks for simultaneous movement, arms extending from said disks across the backs of said dials and in front of said panel, friction shoes carried by said arms and engaging said dials and coupling the two together, said shoes being releasable from said dials by the depression of said arms to rmit said dials to be independentl adjuste ,normally inoperaiive Vernier knobs for said dials rotatabl mounted upon said arms, said knobs being adapted when depressed to operatively engage said dials and simultaneously depress said arms and release said shoes from said dials, and additional friction shoes carried by said arms to engage the front of said panel and prevent said arms from swinging when the same are depressed.

8. A structure as specified inelaim 3; toether with holding means for said carrier brought into play by the aforesaid movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

WILLIAM G. DUNN. 

